Ok, mostly I take a lighter look at culture from my crazy Christian perspective, today however I’m gonna navigate some treacherous territory, homosexuality. This, of course, is in response to the media coverage over former pro baller John Amaechi coming out (with a new book to read all about it, Cha–Ching, and yes I do think it was more a marketing decision than a moral one.) as the B-Ball All Star weekend heads our way. I have no problem with Amaechi bringing up his homosexuality, in fact we need to be more open about this topic. My problem is with how the media has sidestepped some genuine issues with a homosexual athlete, choosing to take the safe route of “Hey, gay athlete, SWEET!” I think it’s actually more nuanced than that. I’m certainly not gonna go all Tim Hardaway on you. His comments were reprehensible and harsh and I think Stern made the correct decision in keeping him away from the All Star game. My moral stance has always been to treat homosexuality no differently that any other sex outside of marriage, it is a sexual sin. Having a gay coworker would be no different than having one who was having an affair, and unless they are in my circle of close friends and accountability partners it’s not my place to be confronting or judging them. So my issue isn’t in having a gay person on my team, but is it really homophobic to think that it would make for an uncomfortable locker room or hotel situation? I would think that if someone (male or female) is sexually attracted to men, I would find it both uncomfortable and invasive to have them stay in a hotel room with me or be in the same shower area. I would not do these things with women present, why would it be any different with a gay man? It’s not like I fear they will hit on me or even find me attractive, It’s just a simple matter of privacy. I can understand in our culture of co-ed dorms and increased exhibitionism how many wouldn’t see this as an issue (with either gender, ie female reporters in the locker room) but I think having a gay teammate involves a little more discussion than just, “Okee Dokee“. You may say this makes me homophobic, I say it just makes me old-fashioned.
One Reply to “Walking the Minefield of Homosexuality….”
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YES! I agree – Tim Hardaway made an idiot of himself. To just make a blanket statement hating gay people – That’s attacking the person – which is wrong. If you disagree with the lifestyle, I understand your discomfort or what-not, and go ahead. Really – there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that. And to think I once valued his rookie cards…
I’m wondering: if Tim HAD attacked the lifestyle and not every gay person in the world, would the media backlash really have been much less? If he had said “I really think that homosexuality is wrong. I wouldn’t want to be in the locker room with a man that is oriented that way,” would he have been understood? Or called a bigot anyway? Seems that no one get the whole “hate the sin, love the sinner” cliche. Perhaps that’s because we Christians haven’t really been very good at separating the two.
And yeah – i wouldn’t shower with a bunch of naked women. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me, or them. I think it’d be fair to say the same thing of John Amaechi and players in his same shoes.
I dont’ know – just some various thoughts I’ve had after watching ESPN for a few hours.
Yes – time well spent. And Hi, Aaron, by the way!